Re: Jeep Compass : Official Review I did a test drive of Jeep Compass Diesel AT Limited version today. I have a GT TSI, so will do some comparison with the same.
Engine/ Gearbox combo: When compared to my GT TSI, I felt the city ride is better as it is able to close the gaps in traffic better than my GT TSI, may be due to TC gearbox. So I would say Compass is better to drive in city than GT TSI. Also the size is not that bulky and can be taken through narrow roads in Kochi.
In highway, nothing special to tell, it was just fine for normal highway cruising and can work if you are not in a hurry. But in a sprint, the Compass cannot compete with the feel of GT TSI. So for a highway like Kerala, where it is mostly single lane without divider, Compass is for those who is ready to get stuck behind a lorry and reach the destination as per the truck drivers wish and not as per our wish. A paddle shifter was really missed in Compass and cannot go for explosive driving by quick acceleration and cutting back to the lane after overtaking in single lane highways. ZF gearbox is smooth, but I did not feel anything special for enthusiastic driving. Gear number is not shown, no paddle, no sports mode – so this is a car which is not really made for driving enthusiasts. Also as someone mentioned, the engine is loud and I can feel vibrations in steering while idling.
Did not push the car to check for body roll, but for a normal regular driver, it is alright.
Mileage: I had reset the mileage at the beginning of the test drive and drove around 20 kms with a mix of highway and city driving (50:50) (being a Saturday, traffic inside city was not high), and I was surprised to see a mileage of 9.2 kmpl. I really expected it to be more than 12 to 13 kmpl as I was driving without much sharper throttling. May be its because it was a test drive car or may be due to my lack of knowledge of mileage in SUVs. I had owned one diesel Verna in 2014 to 2016 which definitely had better mileage.
The area I loved compass is the way it was absorbing bad roads. The places where I used to go in 10 to 20 kmph in my Polo was taken at double speeds easily in Compass and that stress free drive in which a we are unsure about the depth in a puddle of water. Suspension was silent and F-A-R better than the Polo.
In the test drive, I slightly got a back pain and unsure if it is because I did not set the seat angle/ lumbar support properly (I have slight back disk issues and hence is more sensitive than others in this aspect).
Interiors: New interior is really plush with good usage of soft plastics and soft materials in dash board and door pads. Soft materials really take Compass to a premium level. It has one of the premium feeling interiors in less than 35-45 lac cars. Though the "Limited" variant has a very weird color combination of brown and white and what not. Color selection is very weird and the main compelling reason for Model "S" is the all black interiors and lack of multiple weird colors.
Braking: It was fine and I just upgraded to EBC yellow stuff pads in my GT TSI last week, so even with disc brake in rear in Compass, I did not feel it to be any better than the GT TSI.
So overall I would say that the exact replacement/ upgrade for Polo GT TSI in terms of driving thrill/ excitement is never a Jeep Compass, it can be Octavia and there is no comparison between Octavia and a Jeep Compass as I had driven an Octavia extensively. SUV serves a different purpose and I would have never considered SUV if my only reason for owning a car is driving pleasure. But considering the road conditions, higher driving positions, relaxed cruising, not getting bullied by bus inside city, etc SUVs has become the choice for many. An ideal garage would be to have an SUV and a hot hatch/ sedan as both serve different purposes.
While returning, I just dropped in a Hyundai and Ford showroom.
1. Hyundai Tucson: Saw it in dealership, could not get test drive vehicle. But interiors are too bland, though black interiors were good. Even though reviews are stating an explosive engine/ Gearbox combo, I do not want to test drive it as new car is already launched in many parts of the world, so does not make much sense to plonk 30 + lacs in such an outgoing model.
2. Ford Endeavour: Though it is out of budget, just checked the car in dealership. It is a large car for sure, but had very few soft plastic in dash area and door pads. I expected more soft materials and luxury feel which was not there in Endeavour. Interiors did not feel plush to me and new compass interiors felt much luxurious than the Endeavour. I felt the size to be too large to be driven in the narrow roads of Kochi. Anyways it is out of budget, so left the place without waiting for test drive vehicle.
Last edited by petrol_power : 29th August 2021 at 10:28.
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